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Laurier’s Shohini Ghose wins Oktoberfest Women of the Year for STEM advocacy

Wilfrid Laurier University Professor Shohini Ghose is the recipient of the K-W Oktoberfest-Rogers Women of the Year Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) award for her work advocating for women in science. This is the first year the STEM category has been included in the awards.

Ghose is a professor in Laurier’s Department of Physics and Computer Science, the director of the Centre for Women in Science and a 2014 TED Fellow. Ghose studies how the laws of quantum physics can be harnessed to transform computation and communication.

“It's such an honour to receive this award and it is wonderful to be a part of a celebration of the amazing women in the K-W community,” said Ghose. “I hope this new category will help to shine the spotlight on the many contributions of women in science and to inspire the next generations of young women and men to pursue careers in STEM fields.”

K-W Oktoberfest-Rogers Women of the Year recognizes and pays tribute to outstanding women in the community.

"It is a testament to Dr. Ghose's leadership and abilities that she was the first recipient of the STEM award,” said Robert Gordon, vice-president: Research at Laurier. “Her excellence as a researcher, institutional champion and director of the Laurier Centre for Women in Science continues to enhance Laurier's exceptional reputation both locally and globally."

Zitars was nominated in the Young Adult category, which recognizes young women for leading by example and being a role model to her peers. Al-Abadleh was also nominated in the STEM category.

Al-Abadleh is an associate professor in Laurier’s Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. She recently received funding for her research on air pollutants from the Canada Foundation for Innovation John R. Evans Leaders Fund.